Reclining chair



NOV. 9, 1954 F. HOFFMAN, JR 2,693,845

RECLINING CHAIR Filed March 10, 1954 INVENTOR FRANK D. HOFFMAN JR.

A ORNEYS the accompanying United States Patent RECLINING CHAIR 'Frank D.Hoffman, Jr., High Point, N. C., assignor to General Steel ProductsCompany, Inc., High Point, N. C., a corporation of North CarolinaApplication March 10, 1954, Serial No. 415,216

8 Claims. (Cl. 155-105) ber upwardly about its pivot point when thechair is.

One limitation of chairs moved into reclining position. operating uponthe principle just mentioned is the fact that the leg rest member, beingpivotally connected at one of its ends to the seat member, does notproject as far forwardly of the chair as might be desired for thecomfort of the occupant of the chair.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a recliningchair having a leg rest which is supported by an operating linkage,rather than being pivotally connected to the front of the chair seat asis common in many types of reclining chairs.

It is another object of this invention to provide a reclining chairstructure in which a leg rest member is projected upwardly and forwardlyof the seat by the motion of the chair seat or seat-back structure intoreclining position.

In achievement of these objectives, this invention provides a recliningchair in which a leg rest is connected to a pair of pivotallyinterconnected lever members which are moved upwardly and forwardly ofthe chair when to Figs. l-3, there is shown a reclining chair generallyindicated at 10 having a stationary supporting framework 12 and aunitary seat-back structure 15 which includes a seat 14 and a back 16.In the embodiment shown, the seat and back are rigidly connectedtogether and move as a unit. A horizontally extending member 18, whichis preferably of metal construction, is rigidly attached to thesupporting structure 12 and extends lengthwise or in the front-reardimension of the chair.

The seat-back structure 15 is pivotally movable about the stationarysupporting structure 12 by means of a link member 20 which is rigidlyconnected to the seat 14 at point 22, adjacent the rear portion of theseat. Link 20 is pivotally connected to the member 18, and hence to thesupporting structure 12, at point 24. A leg rest member 26 is disposedat the front portion of the chair and, when the chair is not inreclining position, as shown in Fig. 1, the leg rest member 26 assumes avertical position. A bracket member 28 is rigidly attached to theunderneath portion of the leg rest and lies in a plane which is parallelto the plane of the leg rest.

the chair is moved into reclining position. In one embodiment of theinvention the leg rest is supported at spaced points by the outer endsof the pivotally interconnected levers. One of the lever members ispivotally connected to one of the chair members and is acted upon by anactuating link connected to the other chair member. The other levermember is connected to a guiding link which is connected at its oppositeend to the same chair member to which the first lever is pivotallyconnected. In another embodiment of the invention, a furtheramplification of the movement of the leg rest is attained by connectingfirst and second auxiliary lever members to the outer ends of therespective members constituting the pair of levers and then connectingthe outer ends of the auxiliary levers to spaced points on the leg restmember.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the followingdescription taken in connection with drawing in which:

Fig. 1 1s a View in sectional side elevation of a reclining chair inaccordance with the invention showing diagrammatically the positionoccupied by the leg rest and its operating mechanism when the chair isnot in reclining position;

Fig. 2 is a view of the chair of Fig. 1 showing diagrammatically theposition assumed by the leg rest and its operating mechanism when thechair is in reclining posi- -tion;

.Referring now to the drawing, and moreparticularly In order tocoordinate the movement of the leg rest with the movement of theseat-back structure, a connecting linkage is provided between theseat-back structure 15 and the leg rest 26 which will now be described.In the embodiment shown in Figs. l3, this linkage includes the bracket28 and the links 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40 and 42. Link or lever member 32is pivotally connected to the stationary supporting framework at point44 which is located at the forward portion of the member 18. At itsouter end, the member 32 is pivotally connected at point 46 to an endof. link or auxiliary lever member 38 which, in turn, is pivotallyconnected at its opposite end at point 48 to a portion of the bracketmember 28 which is disposed at the rear of the bracket 28 when the legrest is in elevated position.

In the position shown in Fig. 1, the pivot point 48 is at the upperextreme of the bracket 28 with the leg rest in vertical position. Linkor lever member 36 is pivotally connected to link 32 at point 50 whichis intermediate the lengths of both link members 32 and 36. The lowerend of link 36, with respect to the view shown in Fig. 1, is pivotallyconnected to an end of guide link 42 at point 52. The opposite or upperend of guide link 42 is pivotally connected at point 54 to thestationary member- 18 which is attached to the supporting framework 12.The upper end of link 36 with respect to the view shown in Fig. 1 ispivotally connected to an end of link or auxiliary lever 34 at point 56.The opposite end or lower end of link 34, with respect to the viewshownin Fig. l is pivotally connected to an end of link 40 at point 58. Theopposite end of link 40 is pivotally connected to the bracket 28 atpoint 60, which is positioned below the pivot point 38, with respect tothe view shown in Fig. 1.

Link 34 is connected intermediate of its length to link 38 at point 62,this connection also being intermediate the length of member 38. Theupper end of-the link or lever 32 is provided with an extension orrigidly attached crank arm 33 which extends substantially at rightanglesto the longitudinal axis of the link 32 adjacent the pivotal connection44 or link 32 to the stationary framework. Actuating link 30 ispivotally connected at point 35 to the forward portion of the seat 14.It will be seen that the rigid connection of crank arm 33 to lever 32forms in effect a bell crank in which the short arm of the bell crank isformed by crank arm 33 while the long arm of the bell crank is formed bylever 32. The opposite end of the actuating link 30 is pivotallyconnected at point 37 to the crank arm 33, at a position which islaterally spaced from the longitudinal axis of the link 32.

It can be seen that the links 32, 34, 36 and 38, because of theirpivotal interconnections at points 50, 46, 56 and 62, form what may betermed a closed primary quadric linkage or closed quadrilateral linkagewhich, in the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, is substantially aparallelogram in shape. Furthermore, the link 34, the bracket 28, andthe links 38 and 40 form a second closed quadric linkage which is alsosubstantially in the shape of a parallelogram.

"When the chair seat 14 is moved into reclining position, as shown inFigs. 2-and 3, the pivotal movement of the chair seat about its pivotpoint 24 is communicated to the leg rest operating mechanism through theconnection of. actuating link .30.-to thecrank-arm .33 attached toilink32. 'Theupward movement of link 30 causes the link 32 and its attachedlever member 33v to be swung upwardly about the pivot point .44 toapproach. a horizontal position asshown in Figs. 2 and 3. The upwardmovement of link 32 about its pivot point -44raises the link 36 which ispivotally connected .to link .32 at point 50. Link 42 moves upwardlyabout its pivot point 54 because of its pivotal connection .at 52.tolink. 36. As the links -32, 42 and.:36- move .upwardly, the link 36swingsabout its pivotal connection 50 to link'32 in such manner that theinterior angle subtended by links 36 and 32..changes from anobtuse-angle, as in the case of the vertical position of the legrestshownin Fig.- 1, to an acuteanglein the extended position of the legrest shownin Figs. 2 and .3. 'Because of the constrained linkageinterconnection between links 36, 38, 32 and 34, the movementimparted-by link 42 to link 36 is also communicated to theother links-inthe primary quadric linkage formed by links 32, 34, :36tand 38 in .suchmanner as.tosbiftqthe.links. 36. and 38 in a forward direction. As aresultof theforward shifting of the -links..34,w36 and 38 the. point. ofpivotal support 48 of the bracket '28 and of the leg -rest.26 is alsoshifted forwardly. In. order to limit :the upward movement of :the legrest, a stop member. 64 is provided in the path of movement of -the.link42, the stop member 64 being attached to'. the member 18 whiclris apartof the sta- \tionary framework of the chair.

The 1 forward and upward-shifting: movement of the legrest 26 is stillfurther amplified by the. secondary quadric chain composed of. the links34, 38, :40 and the bracket 28. The interconnection between these linksat the pivot points-'48, 62',158..and.60. causes the-link 40 to pivotforwardly about its pivot point 58 and causes a forward shifting of thebracket 28. maid in projecting the leg rest still further forwardly of.the' chair.

There is shown. in Fig. 4 a modified embodiment of the invention whichis similar to the embodiment shown Figs. 1v to 3 except that the.secondary quadric-linkage .is not used. Thus, the embodiment of Fig.4includes the actuating link. 30' .which.is pivotally connected at 37' tothe crank arm 33'. of lever :or link 32'. The leg rest 26' is..supportedby bracket. 28'. Links 32',;.36', 38 .and bracket 28' together. formazprimary quadric linkage which is substantially in the'shape of a.parallelogram. Links 36'. and 38 are pivotally'connected to bracket .28at the pivot points 56 and62, respectively. An end of :link 38' ispivotally connected-to an end of link 32 at =point-.46'. Links 32'.;and36'.arev pivotally connected to :each otherat point- 50. The ends of:links 36' and :42

arepivotally connected together-atpoint 52'. The guide .link'42 ispivotally connected. to thesupporting framework at 54'. Astop member 64.projects from. the surface of the member 18 attached to :thestationaryframework. of. the chair in order. to limit the motion .of the guidelink 42. Theoperation of the linkage of the embodiment of Fig. 4 isthesame as thatvpreviously .de-

scribed for the embodiment of Figs 1-3;. that is, the .pivotal motion oftheseatmember 14' .is communicated :through actuating =link30' to thelever or. link 32' which is-raised to a substantially .horizontal.position as shown :inFig. 4. At the same time, the. connection of the.guide member 42' to the link 36' causes a forward motion .of :thequadriclinkage formed by the .links32', 28','1-36.and

'38 in suchimanneras :to shift the leg rest 26'- win a forwarddirection.

It can be seen. from the'foregomg: that there is provided-in..-accordancewith this. inventionasimple and etiicient mechanism forshifting a leg. rest upwardly and forwardly ofa reclining chair asthe-chair. seat is moved into reclining position.

"While there have been shown: and describedrparticular embodiments ofthe invention,itwill beunderstood by :those skilled in the art thatvarious changes and modifications maybe made therein. Without departingfrom the -invention and it is aimed in the appended claims .to cover.all .such' changes and .modificat1ons.as fall within the 'true; spiritand scopeof gtheainyention.

'What Iiclaim as-my-inventronz isz 1. A reclining chair comprising arecliningomember supported by a stationary member, a leg rest disposedat thefront of-- said chair for movement upwardly-andtorwardly of saidchair, a pair ..of levers pivotally connected to each otherintermediate-their ends, an actuating. link pivotally connected to oneof said levers and to one of said members, said one lever beingpivotally connected to the other of said members at a point spaced fromthe pivotal connection between said one, lever and said actuating link,a guiding link pivotally connected to the other of said leversat a pointspaced from the pivotal.connection. between said levers, said guidinglink being pivotally connected to said other. member,..andmeansswingably connecting one end of each lever to said leg rest atspaced points.

2. A reclining chair comprising a reclining member supported byastationary member, a leg rest disposed at the front of said chair formovement upwardly and forwardly of said chair, a pair of leverspivotally connected :to each other intermediate their ends, one of"saidlevers including a cranknportion.adjacentone of its...ends,--=anactuating link pivotally connected .to. said crank portion and to one ofsaid members, said one -lever,:beingpivotally. connected. to theother'ofsaid members aha-point spaced from the pivotal connection: between said'crank portion .and said .actuating link, .and a guiding .link pivotallyconnected-to: the other,.-of..'said :levers at a point spaced from thepivotal connection between said levers, said guiding. link beingpivotally. connectedtosaidsother .memben. andwmeanssswingably connectingone end of each lever to said leg. rest atspaced points thereon.

3. A reclining chair comprising,atreclining member supported. by a;stationaryzmember, a leg rest, disposed at the front of said chair formovement upwardly and forwardly of. said chair, a pair ofleverspivotally connected to each other intermediate.theirends, a bell crankhaving a long arm formed by-one osaid levers and a short arm, anactuating link pivotally connectedto the short arm of said bell crank.and toone ofsaidzmembers, saidbell crank being pivotally 'connectedntothe other-of--said members at a point spaced from the pivotal-connectionbetween said actuatingilink. and said short arm of -said .bell crank, aguiding link pivotally connected to the :other-of said. levers atapointspaced from thepivotal connection between said levers,-said-=guidinglink being pivotally connected to said other member and-means swingablyconnecting oneend .ofeachlever to said-leg :restat spaced pointsthereon.

4. A reclining chair comprisinga-v reclining member supported by astationary member, a leg-rest disposed at the front. of said chair formovement upwardlyand forwardly of saidtchair, a pair of levers pivotallyconnected to each other intermediate theirends, an actuating linkpivotally connected to one of said leversand to oneqof said members.adjacent the forward portion ofsaid 7 nected to each other-intermediatetheirends, anactuating link pivotally connectedtoone of said levers andto .oneof said members,- said one lever being pivotally .connected totheother of saidmembers at a point spaeed 'from the. pivotal connectionbetween said one lever; and said actuating link, a guiding linkpivotally connected -to the-other of-saidlevers-at-apoint=-spaced fromthe pivotal connection. between. said levers, said, guiding link .beingpivotally connected to said othervmember, and an auxiliary leverpivotally connected to the outer aend-zof said one lever and to saidlegrest,= an endof .;said,.other lever being .pivotallyconnected t0,.-saidl eg rest.

A reclining chair comprising apreclining member supported-by a;stationary member, a legrest disposed at? the front .of. said chair. formovement upwardly-and forwardly of said chair, a first and a secondlever pivtotally. connected-1 tot-.eaclrother intermediate: their ends,

an actuating link pivotally connected to said first lever and to one ofsaid members, said first lever being pivotally connected to the other ofsaid members at a point spaced from the pivotal connection between saidfirst lever and said actuating link, a guiding link pivotally connectedto said second lever at a point spaced from the pivotal connectionbetween said levers, said guiding link being pivotally connected to saidother member, a first auxiliary lever connected to the outer end of saidfirst lever, a second auxiliary lever pivotally connected to the outerend of said second lever, said first and second auxiliary levers beingpivotally connected to each other intermediate their ends, and meansswingably conmeeting the outer end of each of said auxiliary levers tosaid leg rest at spaced points thereon.

7. A reclining chair comprising a reclining member supported by astationary member, a leg rest disposed at the front of said chair formovement upwardly and forwardly of said chair, a first and a secondlever pivotally connected to each other intermediate their ends, saidfirst lever including a crank portion adjacent one of its ends, anactuating link pivotally connected to said crank portion and to one ofsaid members, said first lever being pivotally connected to the other ofsaid members at a point spaced from the pivotal connection between saidcrank portion and said actuating link, a guiding link pivotallyconnected to said second lever at a point spaced from the pivotalconnection between said levers, said guiding link being pivotallyconnected to said other member, a first auxiliary lever pivotallyconnected to the outer end of said first lever, a second auxiliary leverpivotally connected to the outer end of said second lever, said firstand second auxiliary levers being pivotally connected to each otherintermediate their ends, and means swingably connecting one end of eachauxiliary lever to said leg rest at spaced points thereon.

8. A reclining chair comprising a reclining member supported by astationary member, a leg rest disposed at the front of said chair formovement upwardly and forwardly of said chair, a first and a secondlever pivotally connected to each other intermediate their ends, a bellcrank, said bell crank having a long arm formed by said first lever anda short arm, an actuating link pivotally connected to said short arm ofsaid bell crank and to one of said members, said bell crank beingpivotally connected to the other of said members at a point spaced fromthe pivotal connection between said actuating link and said short arm ofsaid bell crank, a guiding link pivotally connected to said second leverat a point spaced from the pivotal connection between said levers, saidguiding link being pivotally connected to said other member, a firstauxiliary lever pivotally connected to the outer end of said firstlever, a second auxiliary lever pivotally connected to the outer end ofsaid second lever, said first and second auxiliary levers beingpivotally connected to each other intermediate their ends, and meansswingably connecting one end of each auxiliary lever to said leg rest atspaced points thereon.

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